MNF chief denies links with insurgents

Aizawl: Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF)
chief Zoramthanga has denied charges made by Chief Minister
Lal Thanhawla that he was behind the formation of the Sinlung
People`s Liberation Army (SPLA) when he was in power.

"How could a government worth its name help form an
insurgent group which it cannot keep under its control?" he
said, adding no political party in power would take such a
step as it would work against the government.

Zoramthanga, a former chief minister, told media persons
that he was not aware of the formation of the militant group
in 2007 till he was informed of it by the intelligence.

"If his statement that he was approached by the parents of
the misguided youths to take them back was true, why they did
not approach me as I was the state chief minister?" he asked.

Zoramthanga alleged that Lal Thanhawla, the then leader of
the opposition, knew everything and refused to inform the
government as a responsible representative of the people.

At a `home coming` ceremony of the SPLA cadres who laid
down arms before him on Friday, Lal Thanhawla accused the
Zoramthanga government of engineering the formation of the
outfit to disrupt the state assembly polls held in December
last.